Nick Kling: Jim Dandy to the rescue

Six three-year-olds are expected to start in today’s Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. Tradition says the one and one-eighth mile event is the key prep race for the Travers Stakes, the most important race run at the Spa.

A field of seven was entered, but one of those, COUSIN STEPHEN, is expected to scratch out after racing in Friday’s Curlin Stakes over the same track and distance.

Many expected last year’s Jim Dandy winner, Palace Malice, to go on and capture the Travers. The 2013 Belmont Stakes champion was made a strong second choice in the wagering. Unfortunately for his backers, the colt broke in a tangle and lost all chance. Now a four-year-old, Palace Malice is the mid-season favorite to earn Horse of the Year honors.

Even with the misfortune which struck Palace Malice, the Jim Dandy winner has captured four of the last nine Travers. The most recent to complete the double was Stay Thirsty in 2011. He was preceded by a three-year string of Flower Alley (2005), Bernardini (2006), and Street Sense (2007).

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Although none of this year’s contestants have the credentials of some of those, there are three refugees from the Belmont Stakes, including the winner. The remaining trio include horses that have won or placed in stakes, making this a solid group despite the small numbers.

Please note that the morning line odds included are before adjustments caused by the scratch of Cousin Stephen.

LEGEND (12-1) inherits the rail with the expected scratch. Perhaps as important, the son of Tiznow could inherit an easy lead if no one else tries to set the pace.

Trained by James Bond, Legend had the misfortune of running into stakes winners in his first two starts. Vinceramos went on to win the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa, then Ring Weekend won the Tampa Bay Derby, with Vinceramos second. Legend was beaten by another next-out winner, Charge Now, in his third start.

It took his fourth try, but Legend was an eye-catching maiden-breaker at Belmont Park in May. The one and one-quarter length margin could have been more, and runner-up Tiz Dark came back to break his maiden next time out.

That prompted Bond to place Legend in the June 7 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont. In that event he raced close to a strong pace, fought for the lead in mid-stretch, then yielded to multiple stakes winner KID CRUZ.

Jockey Luis Saez has an opportunity to place Legend on the lead from his inside post. There is very little true early speed among his five opponents. The ridgling has a chance to upset if he gets a well-judged ride.

ULANBATOR (15-1) is the longest price on the morning line. He deserves that designation.

The colt showed little before breaking his maiden at Gulfstream. Since then Ulanbator has made some improvement, enough to place in a pair of Grade 3 stakes.

However, not only is this a tougher spot, his late-running style would seem to be at a disadvantage in this paceless group. This is the kind of horse that wins if none of the logical contenders run to form. He might be able to clunk up for a small check.

TONALIST (8-5) has three victories and a second since adding blinkers. The only loss was to highly-regarded Constitution in an allowance race at Gulfstream. The latter emerged from that event to post a determined win in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Tonalist deserved to win the Belmont Stakes. He was wide every step of the way. That’s tough in any two-turn race, almost impossible in a mile and one-half classic.

The primary concern for those who like Tonalist is how close to peak form will he be today? Trainer Christophe Clement identified the Travers as his goal several weeks ago. The colt carries co-high weight of 123 pounds.

Is Tonalist ready to win this afternoon?

KID CRUZ (8-1) was claimed by Linda Rice and his current owners for $50,000 while making his final start of 2013. The son of 1999 Travers winner Lemon Drop Kid has captured four stakes and banked more than $335,000 since.

His connections took a premature shot and placed Kid Cruz in the Preakness. For whatever reason he did not run a step, losing much more decisively than would have been expected given his form.

Rice righted the ship and the Kid has won twice since, beating rivals Legend and Ulanbator in the process.